The first thing I see when I look out my window is my flag of the United States of America blowing in the breeze. Often, I will sit and gaze at the flag - great focus for thinking. These are my musings and ramblings, and, on occasion, rants... I am unapologetic in my support of our military, our country and my devotion to God. I will honor them and pay tribute to them here.
Along the side bar you will find tributes to Oregon's fallen warriors.

Tuesday, July 04, 2006

There are MANY great posts on the internet today about our country. I have decided to post a couple of my favorites.

I am always saddened by how much so many DON"T know about our history...about how we became a country, about who we are and what we stand for. Somewhere along the line, we lost our history, lost our soul. I do see it in the hearts and minds of the young men and women we have "adopted" in the military. They give me hope for the future. I believe they will teach their children and set examples in their communities. I know that they are the best that America has to offer and they make me proud.

For those of you who have forgotten your history, Independence Day is the day the Declaration of Independence was ratified by the Continental Congress. We still had a long, hard slog through years of war to become a country, to write a Constitution, to elect a government - it was the day intent for freedom and liberty was stated. Today we commemorate the 56 brave men who stood up to oppression and tyranny. They risked everything for our future. Here are their stories.

INDEPENDENCE DAY

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?

Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died.

Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned.

Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured.

Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.

They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. Many lost their lives, more lost their fortunes, but none lost their honor.

What kind of men were they?

Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists, eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated, but they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts and died in rags.

Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.

At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed and Nelson died bankrupt.

Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife and she died within a few months.

John Hart was driven from his wife’s bedside as she was dying. Their thirteen children fled for their lives. His fields and gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year, he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished.

Some of us take our liberties for granted, but we shouldn’t. So, take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots. It’s not much to ask for the price they paid. Then, thank the many down through our history who have fought for us, thank the men and women who are serving our country today., who fight for us, sto that we will not have to.

Remember: Freedom is Never Free! Patriotism isn’t a Sin! The Fourth of July has more to it than beer, picnics and baseball games.

And, another great quote, which reminds us of how oppressive governments celebrate their national days:

You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism. ~Erma Bombeck

2 comments:

In our Latter-day Saint church service, we had a tribute to America wherein the same story was reiterated about the sacrifices our forebears made to give us liberty.

The sacrifices may not be as difficult now as then, but in a time of sometimes similarly bleak outlook, it helps us to remember that Iraq can succeed against difficult odds, because America succeeded against seemingly insurmountable odds.